Permission for Kanaka Nade draws objection

Dalit leaders have objected to the police permitting Kanaka Nade to be held on Sri Krishna temple premises on Sunday.

Jayan Malpe and Shyamraj Birthi demanded immediate arrest of Yuva Brigade leader Chakravarthy Sulibele and prohibiting him from entering the district. Addressing an emergency meeting at the office of the superintendent of police, they accused the Kanaka Nade organisers of violating the law. The letter issued by the deputy commissioner did not let any cleaning works to be taken up on the temple premises. The Pejawar mutt seer Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swami ‘threw’ the materials to honour the civic workers, which accounts to practice of untouchability. Birthi demanded that the seer should be charged under Dalit Atrocity act. It is humiliation for the Swabhimani Nade activists. Sulibele has clearly mentioned in his FB account status that the Kanaka Nade is a cleansing programme against the pollution done by the Udupi Chalo activists.

CPI (M) leader Balakrishna Shetty said that the cleaning process is not held as per the law. He demanded that police should file suo-motu case against the organisers. Dalit leader Sunder Kappettu said, two of the honoured civic workers were minors. “Hence, the offence against the Child Labour Act was committed. The deputy commissioner will be approached on Monday, demanding justice,” they said.

Garlanding statue

The Dalit leaders asked for permission to garland Kanakadasa’s statue near the temple. Police Superintendent K T Balakrishna had assured full security to do so , but not today.

Balakrishna told reporters that the deputy commissioner had said that the programme should not be held on public property. The Swabhimani Nade activists have appealed against the violation of law. The DC will consider the appeal and take action after the video footages are verified. The case will also be registered as per the court order.

There were nearly 19 CCTV cameras put on the Car Street to capture the programme.